Accept or we will attack. :wub:es.

[Sargon_of_Akkad]

Hey all,

Okay, I play Medieval 2 like I'm Ghengis Khan - capitulate or die.

My generals always have scarily high dread (I managed to turn Richard the Lionheart into Richard the Merciless) as I tend to be practical in all things, thus I'm wearing out my "execute the prisoners" button.

I generally don't lose, and in my most recent campaign as England, I decimated Scotland through a series of 4 heroic victories over them. I have not lost a battle to them yet, and my military ranking is, surprisingly, "supreme". This is a fairly common feature of my campaigns.

However,

This means absolutely nothing to the computer and the "Accept or we will attack" diplomacy option. I'm more than happy to rule by fear, and I don't care if the faction hates me for it afterwards, but the AOWWA seems to have no effect on the diplomatic decisions I am trying to coerce the computer into accepting.

You might think "so what? Don't use it" but it strikes me that it should be a very handy tool for my playing style.

Does anyone have any idea of how it can be used or whether it even does anything?

[Samir]

if you have your diplomat inside or followed by 2 stacks lead by dreadful generals the accept or we will attack gets a whole new meaning.

[Musthavename]

I think its got a lot to do with your Reputation. Since you constantly execute, you've probably got a pretty poor reputation (ie: untrustworthy). Because of this, all diplomatic actions are harder to execute. After all, if King who's just decimated an entire faction and executed the populace says "Accept or we will attack", they're not trusted to abide by it.

When I hit despicable near the end of most games (as I don't need the money or alliances anymore its constant execution / extermination), nobody wants anything to do with me. I've offered 40k florins for a marriage alliance (which appears Very Generous) refused, and not just refused but completely refused. Likewise when my reputation has been good, i've been able to buy an entire factions land off them easily.

[Sargon_of_Akkad]

After all, if King who's just decimated an entire faction and executed the populace says "Accept or we will attack", they're not trusted to abide by it.

...that's strange, because that king is the most likely to follow through on his actions, judging by past events!

I realise that if a faction doesn't like you and you have a bad reputation, you're unlikely to be able to diplomacy stuff out of them (like 5k for an alliance), but if someone has a proven history of butchery, and says "do it or I'll kill you", surely intimidation should swing it?

[Musthavename]

...that's strange, because that king is the most likely to follow through on his actions, judging by past events!

I realise that if a faction doesn't like you and you have a bad reputation, you're unlikely to be able to diplomacy stuff out of them (like 5k for an alliance), but if someone has a proven history of butchery, and says "do it or I'll kill you", surely intimidation should swing it?

That's not what I meant at all. What I mean is suppose you do agree to it. Even though you agreed to it, you wouldn't trust this King to not attack and butcher your people anyway! Why agree to something if you feel he'll attack you no matter what.

[syntax_error]

Why agree to something if you feel he'll attack you no matter what.

Because if you agree, there's a small fraction of a chance that they won't attack quite so soon. Pay 'em off for as long as you can, while mustering your own army, I guess.

Or, you could accept, and then he walks right over you on the next move and takes everything else you have. Global peace through deadly force, I guess!

Edit: Hey, I'm over 100 posts now! Wooha!

[Samir]

If the most chivalrous king in the world comes and threatens me "accept or I will come and release all your prisoners IF I win at all" I would not be very scared.

someone who butchered thousands of people might be taken more serious.

Look at Djingis Khan. after exterminating Kiev he had much lesser troubles getting trade rights and alliances

[stormbringer951]

Yes, but not by CA's rules...

[The Sixth Wizard]

By CA's reasoning, butchering the enemy in a just, vengeful war is just as traitorous as sneak attacking an ally. Overall "dread" of a faction should be different to their diplomatic trustworthiness, in my opinion. If a faction was known to carry through on its threats it would be taken very seriously indeed.

[attilavolciak07]

I think it is just meant to threaten them. Sometimes when it happens to me the AI does attack but not always.

[Angrychris]

i always execute in everything i do and it does destroy your rep with everyone including allies. i would do the diplomate in army strat but other then that ur going to have to be less vicious and offer alot of gifts if u want diplomacy to do anything.